Mobius` EDW approach to integrated data promises improved customer relations

The ability to integrate data from multiple applications is perhaps the single most important requirement for banking institutions wishing to improve workflow, remove redundancies and increase efficiencies in the area of customer relations.

That`s the view of `s Sam Selmer-Olsen, who argues that as banking in South Africa continues its focus on customer-centric offerings, the effects of the customer relations drive will not only be evident in traditional customer interaction across the counter, on the telephone and through mail correspondence, but also across forms of electronic communication such as call centres and Internet banking.

And that`s where the ` (EDW) suite, available locally through Bateleur Software, promises to make the difference, especially given its ability to harmonise and re-engineer discrete business processes by integrating data from multiple applications, among them different databases, different platforms and different user interfaces.

"Many implementations fail to consider the very basic need to integrate documents and recall a client`s historical data instantaneously," says Selmer-Olsen, noting that real-time accuracy and comparative "point-in-time" reporting are dependent on these factors.

Mobius offers unlimited indexed storage and mining capabilities with regards to all data, including video and audio material, photographic material, graphics, electronic documents, scanned documents, statements, application forms, account history and any other form of banking environment documentation. It thus addresses the needs for automated output management and report distribution, as well as access and retrieval throughout the enterprise, by way of a communal viewing system, resulting in microfiche elimination, effective electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) and improved customer service.

"All over the world, banking institutions are expanding and improving technologically to reach the highest level of functionality. The ultimate differentiator though, will be customer service. Mobius has accepted the challenge to improve customer interaction by linking different formats into a chronological order and creating a communal viewing system," says Selmer-Olsen. He adds that, ultimately the system enhances customer service relationships and offers the bank`s client the best possible access to information gathering systems through managed solutions - thereby resulting in improved profitability and productivity.

This totally computerised correspondence system also accelerates debt collection considerably and eliminates traditional administrative obstacles. Added benefits include a reduction of operational costs, controlled allocation of responsibility and liability, and enhancement of marketing efforts and sales procedures.

"Instead of a document warehouse, Mobius creates a document supermarket, where accessibility, availability, and operational ability across all levels is immediate and convenient," Selmer-Olsen explains.

Through Mobius, operators will now enjoy efficient document warehousing and control at their fingertips. This will enable a bank to keep its finger on the pulse of its customers by personalising the relationship, ensuring improved productivity across the organisation, and delivering enhanced service to customers - the end result being a true win-win situation for a bank and its customers.